Spline panel joint



Sept. 6, 1938. E. A. HORN I 2,129,497

, I SPLINE PANEL JOINT Filed Dec. .20, 1957 l: y ,f'

'www A \\v\\ M i 12 12 .bg/114.74m .nlll y l@gl/Infini' WW" -l 3mm fra/Ufo UH. jor/7 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,129,497 sPLINE PANEL JolN'r Erwin A. Horn, Seattle, Wash., assignor to I. F.

Laucks, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 20, 1937, Serial No. 180,890

Z Claims.

My invention relates to a method of forming joints in paneled wall structures and to the product thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved joint for paneled walls including the feature of forming a longitudinal recess of uniform cross section, having boundary surfaces formed both in the supporting framing member and in the edges of adjacent wall panels and in amxing therein a spline of the same cross section as the recess, the spline being preferably adhesively united with all the boundary surfaces and then dressed oi flush with the face surfaces of the panels to form a flush wall.

ToA the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointe-d out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but few of the various ways, in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

The extensiveluse of plywood and artificial boards in constructing paneled walls has pre-- sented a troublesome problem in producing satisfactory flush joints at the junction of the panels. There has been a marked tendency for cracks and defects to develop along the joint, and, although various methods for forming panel joints have been devised, none has been wholly satisfactory. One such method has been to apply glue-to one of the adjacent panel edges and then butt it tightly `against its ma'te, sometimes with the additional feature of gluing the panel edges shown down to the supporting stud. Another suggested method has been to slightly space apart the edges ofadjacent panels where they meet on the surface of a stud and then press in tightly and glue in place .a thin wedge-shaped member dressing the projecting portion off flush with the panel surface. open to the rather serious objection that the edges of panels, as furnished by the panel manufacturers, are not perfectly straight. Obviously, if one of them is not quite straight, neither the butt joint method nor the wedge arrangement can give very perfect results. In neither case is it possible to get a perfect glue joint from panel to panel along the entire surface of the abutting panel edges, and in the case of the wedge method, the faces of the wedge member are only tight to the panel edges at the outer surface and are necessarily loose within, and, owing to lack of complete parallelism of the adjacent panel edges,

Such methods have been found (Cl. 2li- 15) the wedge is not everywhere equally tight. 'I'here is also a tendency for panel edges to rise, or pop up slightly from the supporting stud particularly where they are only held downfwith nails. The aforementioned wedge method of forming the joints does not seem to counteract this tendency.

The present invention solves these diniculties by a new treatment which is free from these obf -jections ,and insures the maximum possible contact between the cooperating surfaces. Attention is .directed to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a previously grooved supporting stud and two surface panels meeting thereon with their meeting edges located above the groove.

Figure 2 is a view similar' to Figure 1, lbut showing the remainder of the spline'groove cut in the edges of panels meeting above the groove.

Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1, showing the spline secured in place and projecting somewhat beyond the surfaces of the panels.

Figure 4 shows a similar view but with the spline dressed flush with the panel surfaces.

Figures 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9 show, in perspective, end portions of some of the various types of I,splines which may be used; y

A preferred form of the present invention employs the following method as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. Studs, as at I0, are provided as shown with a groove I I cut straight and true. In erecting the wall, the meeting edges of adjacent panels I2 are so located as to come approximately parallel to and over the groove II. To form a strong wall of superior quality it is preferable but not essential that thepanels be glued to the face of the stud along `surfaces I3 and then nailed so that the holding power of the nails acts as a retaining clamp to insure a good glue joint. When the glue is set, a small hole of the same diameter as. the width of groove II is bored through the face of the panels into the groove in the stud. An electric router is then used with a pilot tip which iits the stud groove II and cutting bits which cut out the adjacent panel edges to form surfaces indicated by the referencenumeral I4. The bits are arranged so that the cross section of the recess thus formed, and previously formed, is exactly the same as the. cross section of the spline member i5, or portion thereof, which is secured in the completed groove. These spline members may take a variety of forms, such, for example, as those shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, at I6, I1, I8, I9 and 29, with corresponding character of router bits. As

shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spline l5 is then secured in the groove, preferably by gluing, and after the glue is set, if a flush wall is desired, as is usually the case, the projecting portion lia oi' the spline is dressed smooth with the panel surfaces. If desired, an ornamental spline having an outer surface which forms a batten may be used and the projecting portion allowed to remain. Figure 9 illustrates a spline of this character. Where it is used it is desirable to provide glue on the lower surface of the projecting batten portions so that all the Contactin surfaces are securely glued together.

Obviously many modifications may be used employing the principles of this invention, it being essential, however, that the groove be formed to an accurate cross 'section both in the abutting panel edges and in the stud and that the spline be an accurate t for the groove and strongly secured in place. As here shown, the grooves are preferably outwardly unrestricted so that the splines may be applied bydirect movement toward the wall rather than having to be inserted by a longitudinal movement as would be the case if the grooves were undercut and the splines correspondingly shaped. Preferably all the boundary surfaces should be adhesively united so as to produce the strongest and most durable joint.

Various methods may be used for forming the spline groove. One method permits the use of ordinary studs which are not previously grooved and also the erection of panels fixed to the Wall with the customary contacting butt joints. In this case, when cutting the groove with the router, a straight-edge guide is temporarily held on the wall parallel with and a slight distance to one side of the panel joint and the router is provided with a collar which acts as a guide by running against the straight edge while the lower face of the collar which is smooth also acts as a guide to regulate the depth to which the spline groove is cut. In that case, the router bit forms the entire groove, such as is shown in Fig. 2, for example, for the spline, including the portion which enters the face of the stlid, as Well as the portion formed in the edges4 f the abutting panels. Other modified methods of forming the groove will be apparent to any skilled workman.

This method is very effective and useful for the construction of paneled walls surfaced either with plywood or artificial boards. In the preferred form the important advantage is secured of an adhesive union of all the cooperating surfaces which handle the stresses towhich a panel joint is subjected. No previous method, so far as I am aware, secures this complete tying together of all the elements. It is noted that the form of spline joint shown, for example, in Fig. 2, securely ties the panel edges to the stud because of the outwardly enlarging form of the groove so that they cannot come loose from it and also is not adversely affected by lack of complete straightness originally in the adjacent panel edges.

The method is also convenient, inexpensive and practical under present day conditions where the majority of dwelling houses are built by contractors who make use of electric power operated tools on the construction job. Under such conditions a small portable electric drill fitted with the correct router bit, rapidly and accurately forms the spline grooves, and with a supply of suitable splines which can be cheaply prepared in any well equipped woodworking shop, an inexpensive and highly effective solution of the panel jomt problem is provided.

Othe modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features-stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I claim:

1. Wall structure of wood or the like comprising facing panels having spaced-apartv edges, a common supporting framing member behind said panels and lapping the adjacent margins of the latter, said margins being inthe same plane, means securing said margins to said member, said member having a recess between said panel edges so that an outwardly unrestricted groove of uniform cross-section is provided having boundary surfaces including the lateral walls of said recess and the panel edges, and a spline Secured in said groove and filling the same cross-sectionally, said spline having an exposed front surface forming a part of the face of the wall structure. 2. Wall structure of Wood or the like comprising facing panels having spaced-apart edges, a common supporting framing member behind said panels' and lapping the adjacent margins of the latter, said margins being in the same plane, means securing said margins to said member, said member having a recess between-said panel edges so that an outwardly unrestricted groove of uniform cross-section is provided having boundary surfaces including the lateral walls of said recess and the panel edges, and a spline in said groove filling the same cross-sectionally, said spline'being secured in said groove by adhesive union with all the boundary surfaces of the latter and having an exposed front surface forming a part of the face of the wall structure.

ERWIN A. HORN. 

